The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-27

gan declared In intimate conferences that Grant
had never said to either that he would be a can
ddate. He always had supersttious feeling,
which he describes in his memoirs, that he would
fail in any effort made by himself to secure his
own advancement. He had done nothing what
ever to promote his first nomination. and moth
ing directly for his second and he determined
now to follow the same course with the third.
He finally. however, became extremely ar xious
to receive the nomination. In May / went out
to visit him at Galena; but before reached that
his son, Colonel Grant AT Chicago saw him
constantly. either at Colonel Grants house or
more frequently at General Sheridan's head
QUARTERS; for his son was on Sheridan's staff /
accompanied him on a visit to e. B. Washburne,
ana dined with him at the house of Russell
Jones, his former Minister to Belgium. Both
THESE gentlemen were avowed supporters of Gen
erai Grant. and in their presence conversation
was unrestrained and his prospects we're dis
cussed as freely as they would have been before
any other expectant candidate
It was only few weeks before the conven-
ton, and Grant manifested as much anxiety as
ever saw him display his own account: he
calculated the chances. he counted the delegates
considered now every movement would affect
the result was pleased or indignant at the con.
version of enemies or the detection of friends
just as any other human being naturally would
have been under the same circumstances: only
it was hardly natural in him, who was used to
conceang his personal feeling in all things. OF
course, this feeling WAS only with his esspecial
l1.imates, his family, his old staff officers,
Horace Porter and myself, and very few other
tried friends whom he CHANGED to meet at this
time. But that he disclosed his interest at all
showed how profoundly it must have stirred
him.
1 had not met him for more than year. dur
ing which period he had gone through his won
derful experience in the East, had obtained his
knowledge of China and Japan, and conceived
an oriental policy for this country, which he be-
lieved so important that desire to achieve it
was certainly one reason why he was SO anxious
to return to power. ALI who met him were i'm
pressed with his views in regard to those Asiatic
countries, the relations with them which he
thought might be developed. the trade we might
create. the immense advantage both they and
we might receive from an intimate understand
ing. He talked very broadly, with a knowledge
of the subject that made him fluent and an
interest which at times almost inspired him
to eloquence. Once. twice he ad-
dressed q party of twenty or thirty men of
importance in business affairs, and enchained
their attention for hours while he laid before
them his information and his views. Mexico
also was a favorite theme, and Mexican policy
was already terminating in his brain. AS a
rule do not consider that General Grants in
telect was remarkable for originality he alb
sorbed the best points in the views of others,
and constructed out of them his finest
schemes and successes making them however
completely his own; but in these oriental and
Mexican measures he seemed to me entirely
original He had become a profound thinker
and an international statesman during his trav-
els He had seen other countries, both the peo-
pies and the rulers; the emperors and tykoos,
and sultans, and the ministers and parliaments,
and the nations themselves; his views were wild
ened and his whole character enlarged but at
the same time his national feeling and his DEM
ocratic preferences were intensified He was
never so fit to be President as when his party
rejected him.
am sure from what he said that he was con-
scious of most of his former errors in political
administration. and intended to rectify them; he
was large and generous in his feeling for the
South, and had indeed become as popular in the
region where he fought among the soldiers
who had followed him thither. 1t was believed
by his adherents that he would have polled a
large vote in the Southern States, and broken
down the line of a solid South as no man had
yet succeeded in doing. OF course these are
surmises, but recite them because they affected
him; and considerations of this sort were promi-
nent motives Of his conduct at this time.
After a stay of few days | returned to the
East and shortly afterward Mr. Russell Young
who had accompanied Grant during the greater
part of his European and Asiatic tour. went ont
to visit him. Young was opposed to Grants re-
nomination, principally, perhaps, because he
thought he could not be elected. He had long
and repeated conversations in which he repre-
sented the views of those of Grants friends who
were averse to his standing again. Mrs. Grant
suspected iouugs purpose, and tried to thwart
il, and the discussions between Young and the
General were carried on usually in her absence.
This was only few days before the convention
was to meet at Chicago. General Grant had even
yet made no Outspoken declaration of his inten-
ton. though of course having allowed his friends
to use his name without objection, he could not in
honor withdraw it without their consent But
Young induced him to write letter, addressed
to Senator Cameron. authorizing his friends, if
they saw fit, TO withdraw his name from the con-
ventien. This was most extraordinary infiu-
ence for any one man TO exert with Grant and
knew of few parallel instances. Young, how
ever, doubtless appeared as the spokesman of
others whose opinions backed his own though
his fidelity and friendship gave weight TO what
he said. But the letter was sent in opposition
to the views of Mrs. Grant and without her
knowledge, and was calculated, Of course to
dampen the enthusiasm and bewlder the coun-
sci of Grants most devoted adherents can
conceive OF no step more unlike General
Grants ordinary character or behavior
than this halfway reversal of what he had
previously countenanced. But it was too late to
recede: his friends had committed both him and
themselves, and they were not influenced by the
phase of irresolution which had passed over him.
Tney made no use of the letter. General Grant
kept no copy of it, nor did Young, and those to
whom it was committed have never made il pub
lie Grant never censured them for the fidelity
that disregarded his suggestion of withdrawal
and all the remainder Of his life he remained
more than grateful to the men who supported
him so faithfully at Chicago. just as he never
forgave any who he thought betrayed him at that
time. He never afterward spoke except with
bitterness of his lifetime friend Washburne who
he believed, know not how rightly. played him
false; and he remembered the violence Of some
who supported Mr.. Blaine with an acerbty that
was not confined to them. but extended to his
great rival. Even former followers who did not
support him in the concluding political effort of
his life never afterward held the same place in
his personal regard. His failure embittered his
feeling toward all who contributed to it.
This remark has no reference to Young Grant
followed Young's counsel, and in the end perhaps
wished that others had done so too 1t was at
his urgent advice that Mr.. Young was afterward
appointed by Arthur, Minister to China.
But though Grants disappointment was acute
it was not manifested with any loss of dignity.
The world knows how soon he accepted defeat
and fell into line as a follower in that party of
which he had so long been the chief; how he
supported Mr. Garfield. and though an ex-Presi-
dent. attended political meetings and made po-